Customs says four men have been arrested in the past month after separate child exploitation material investigations. Photo / stock image 123RF
A 20-year-old Auckland man has been arrested for allegedly exporting and distributing child sexual exploitation material.
Today's arrest marks the fourth child exploitation case in the past month, according to New Zealand Customs Service. Accordingly, the agency has issued a warning to those "increasingly online during lockdowns".
"Customs has been
working tirelessly during this lockdown, with partners in the police and Department of Internal Affairs, to track down offenders who prey on children in this way and hold them to account, even with Covid-19 restrictions in place," said Simon Peterson, who serves as chief customs officer for the Child Exploitation Operations Team.
Knowingly exporting and distributing objectionable publications is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment.
The four separate investigations involved suspects across New Zealand.
